A question about computers

So, I just got a new laptop, my first Windows machine in over a decade. Well, I set it up to use my WiFi at home, and when I went to my friend's house I set it up to work off of her WiFi. Her router had the option to use the WPS button instead of entering the security key. Well, the next time I went over there, I couldn't connect to her wireless network, and when I tried to do the set-up over again, the WPS option didn't even appear on my laptop's menu. 

What gives? What should I be double-checking? I'm running Windows 7, if that makes any difference. 

Thanks for any guidance.

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Permalink Reply by Zoetrope on October 25, 2012 at 2:51pm

Have you tried manually typing in the WPA code, instead of just using the wps button?  I think most times all it is is a matter of restarting the computer or router/modem, or both...and then retrying your normal routine.  

You can try logging into the router (usually 192.168.1.1 depending on your brand) and seeing if any settings have changed, like mac address filtering being turned on or something, too, which if you're not on the allowed list you wouldn't be able to connect.  

Permalink Reply by Jerry Lee on October 25, 2012 at 3:08pm

fyi... I think Windows 8, comes out tommorrow.....more problems

Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on October 25, 2012 at 3:32pm

Jerry, Windows 8 just has one problem - it's called Windows 8.

Jerry Lee said:

fyi... I think Windows 8, comes out tommorrow.....more problems

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on October 26, 2012 at 1:10am

LMAO

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:

Jerry, Windows 8 just has one problem - it's called Windows 8.

Jerry Lee said:

fyi... I think Windows 8, comes out tommorrow.....more problems

Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on October 26, 2012 at 2:23am

Not to thread-jack, but I was all set last night to download & install Win8 on my Win7 laptop.  That is, until I discovered that my trusty version of Office 2003, which still works fine, won't work in Win8.  Plus, Microsoft wants me to buy a new viewer if I want to continue viewing DVDs on my computer.  I think I'll stick to Win7 for the time being.

Permalink Reply by Jason W on October 26, 2012 at 6:37am

Vondo, I bet it's the router / wireless access point that needs to be restarted. Those things do need a restart from time to time, and they go bad faster than most people think because of how hot they run.

Also, WPS is not very secure at all. Might want to tell your friend to turn that off.

Permalink Reply by Vondo on October 26, 2012 at 10:44am
You know, i didn't even think about restarting the router. I was looking around in the advanced settings section. I'll give it a shot, thanks guys.
Permalink Reply by Zoetrope on October 26, 2012 at 3:26pm

I wont be upgrading soon either, and maybe not ever.  It sounds like a wild revamp of their OS and catered more towards the mobile/android crowd, or so I've heard.  I guess their Windows Live thing plays a big role in Win 8, too, which I've never used since I don't use Hotmail/MSN/IE or w/e.  Win 7 works for me, and if anything I'd rather upgrade to a Mac instead of Win 8.  

Thunder Snow said:

Not to thread-jack, but I was all set last night to download & install Win8 on my Win7 laptop.  That is, until I discovered that my trusty version of Office 2003, which still works fine, won't work in Win8.  Plus, Microsoft wants me to buy a new viewer if I want to continue viewing DVDs on my computer.  I think I'll stick to Win7 for the time being.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on October 27, 2012 at 2:48am

Windows 8?   The 1990's called and wants their Compuserve look back.

Microsoft says that this is their chance to get into mobile computing.  Well, the jury has been in on that one for the last 15 years.   Microsoft has tried again and again and AGAIN to build mobile operating systems and they just don't get it.  The fact that WinMobile has been such a massive FAIL try after try is why there is such a thing as iOS and Android.   Windows 8 is going to suck.  Windows Phone is going to suck.  People have given them a ton of tries and they are out on strikes.   Windows 8 is never going to get out of the dugout.  The consumers aren't going to give them another at-bat.   Sorry.  Too Little Too Late.

As for the WiFi issue, that WPS thing is crap.  It doesn't work most of the time and it is a huge security issue.  Most WiFi routers are total junk -they are underbuilt with heat-management designs so they run hot.  Most of the time folks have them running on the default channel (6) and fighting for spectrum with other nearby devices.  Even when they are not there is a ton of background noise in the WiFi bands on all the channels and most people are running far enough away from their router that it is always at maximum transmit power.   This just eats them up.  After 6 months to a year these WiFi devices have built up a lot of issues due to always running hot.   They begin to drop connections, get confused, and have other random issues that defy troubleshooting as they do them so sporadically.   The only way most people deal with it is to keep restarting them.  This helps for a while but then it becomes a daily routine to reboot the router.  Might as well put a switch on the box to make it easier.  Once you need a daily restart it's time to buy a new one.   

Permalink Reply by Mike Schwab on October 27, 2012 at 6:20am

Daily restart?  How about twice a day brand new?

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on October 27, 2012 at 8:23am

That is true in principle, if not for the fact that Microsoft developers have consistently and historically bloated their source code at a rate that FAR-FAR-FAR outstrips the trends with hardware development and Moore's Law. 

They have fundamentally been working AWAY from mobile computing capability throughout their corporate lifespan -not towards it. 

h' said:

But the concept of nudging a desktop OS in the direction of a mobile OS to provide for a more integrated user experience is bold and new, right?  I mean, the roadmap for MacOS 10.7 and 10.8  to do so couldn't have been laid out more than 4 or 5 years ago.

James BlackHeron said:

Windows 8?   The 1990's called and wants their Compuserve look back.

Microsoft says that this is their chance to get into mobile computing.  Well, the jury has been in on that one for the last 15 years.   Microsoft has tried again and again and AGAIN to build mobile operating systems and they just don't get it.  The fact that WinMobile has been such a massive FAIL try after try is why there is such a thing as iOS and Android.   Windows 8 is going to suck.  Windows Phone is going to suck.  People have given them a ton of tries and they are out on strikes.   Windows 8 is never going to get out of the dugout.  The consumers aren't going to give them another at-bat.   Sorry.  Too Little Too Late.

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